Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikaltoka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikaltoka’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderately freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; large clear pink-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALTOKA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fikaltoka’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark in April, 2008 of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Isano’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 3963-01 (09), not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fikaltoka’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fikaltoka’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Moderately freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large clear pink-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Isano’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Isano’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are not as compact as plants of         ‘Isano’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Isano’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Isano’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Isano’ have violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have lighter pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Cora’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,301. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Cora’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of         ‘Cora’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller and flatter leaves         than plants of ‘Cora’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Cora’.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Cora’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Cora’ had violet pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fikaltoka’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph was taken and eleven weeks old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikaltoka’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Isano’,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 3963-01 (09), not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days             at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 29 days             at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically greyish white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous             cymes positioned above the foliar plane; triangular in shape             with rounded crown; appropriate for 5 to 7.5-cm containers;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 11 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 10 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching habit with             about three to five lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but             will enhance lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 7 cm to 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 138A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Quantity per plant.—Typically about four to seven mature             leaves and about six to nine generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate to serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; coriaceous; succulent; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A to 147B. Developing             and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent. Color, upper surface: Close to 147B.             Color, lower surface: Close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged singly             in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with             usually more than 20 open flowers and more than 20 flower             buds per lateral branch and more than 100 open flowers and             flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously             for at least six weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in the Northern             Hemisphere; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at             least 14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, under short day/long             night photoinductive conditions, plants begin flowering             about nine to eleven weeks; actual time to flower is             primarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 55 days under interior conditions; individual             flowers last about 18 days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 2.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with             development. Color, before flower opening: Close to 73A to             73B.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             1 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Aspect: Upright to somewhat flat.             Shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; shiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 68A to 68B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 63D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 68B; color does not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 63D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             9 mm. Width: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed.             Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright,             rigid. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;             glabrous; shiny. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Erect, rigid. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:             About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length:             About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma shape: Flat.             Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikaltoka’ as illustrated and described. 